(Continued) How to Prevent and Respond to Grave Violations Against Children in Armed Conflict - Security Council, 9366th Meeting
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Six Official
05-Jul-2023
03:54:27
The open debate will provide an opportunity for Member States to consider the findings from the report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict (to be issued as A/77/895-S/2023/363). Conflict continues to affect children to alarming levels, as outlined in the report.
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Description
Highest-Ever Number of Violations against Children Verified in 2022, Briefer Tells Security Council, as Speakers Champion Reintegration, Education Programmes
In the ensuing all-day debate, more than 70 speakers voiced alarm over the scale of grave violations outlined in the Secretary-General’s report. The representative of the United Kingdom — Council President for July, speaking in her national capacity — stressed that these are “not just statistics”; rather, they tell “the stories of real children and their families and communities”. Albania’s delegate, expressing the view of many, stated: “A crime against a child is an affront to all of us, to humanity”. Speakers also discussed the report’s listing of a permanent Council member.
On that, numerous delegates — including those of France, Austria and Guatemala — spotlighted the devastating consequences for children resulting from the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine. The representative of the United States said Moscow’s forces have committed crimes against humanity against children and deported hundreds of thousands of civilians — including forcibly separated children. Adding to that, Poland’s delegate highlighted that his country has become a “safe haven” for 1.6 million Ukrainians, 90 per cent of whom are women and children.
Many speakers outlined solutions, as well, with Switzerland’s delegate citing long-term reintegration programmes as a powerful antidote to the risk of future child recruitment. Similarly, Gabon’s delegate called for systematic implementation of such programmes for children who have been separated from armed groups. He also highlighted the use of improvised explosive devices in battlefields — especially in Africa, where many children are used as fighters, mine testers and human shields. Against this backdrop, delegates, such as those from Japan, Ecuador and Slovenia, called for the implementation of mine-clearance programmes to prevent the death and maiming of children by such devices.
In the ensuing all-day debate, more than 70 speakers voiced alarm over the scale of grave violations outlined in the Secretary-General’s report. The representative of the United Kingdom — Council President for July, speaking in her national capacity — stressed that these are “not just statistics”; rather, they tell “the stories of real children and their families and communities”. Albania’s delegate, expressing the view of many, stated: “A crime against a child is an affront to all of us, to humanity”. Speakers also discussed the report’s listing of a permanent Council member.
On that, numerous delegates — including those of France, Austria and Guatemala — spotlighted the devastating consequences for children resulting from the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine. The representative of the United States said Moscow’s forces have committed crimes against humanity against children and deported hundreds of thousands of civilians — including forcibly separated children. Adding to that, Poland’s delegate highlighted that his country has become a “safe haven” for 1.6 million Ukrainians, 90 per cent of whom are women and children.
Many speakers outlined solutions, as well, with Switzerland’s delegate citing long-term reintegration programmes as a powerful antidote to the risk of future child recruitment. Similarly, Gabon’s delegate called for systematic implementation of such programmes for children who have been separated from armed groups. He also highlighted the use of improvised explosive devices in battlefields — especially in Africa, where many children are used as fighters, mine testers and human shields. Against this backdrop, delegates, such as those from Japan, Ecuador and Slovenia, called for the implementation of mine-clearance programmes to prevent the death and maiming of children by such devices.
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3067059
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3068071